SUEZ MEMORIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1932, Page 7

SUEZ MEMORIAL

HOR-SE AS SCULPTOR’S MODEL

HOURS SPENT IN STUDIO

MELBOURNE, November 24. Ben, a Melbourne horse, was the monel for the late ’Mr C. Web Gilbert in his work on the Light Horse b'lnorifi', on the west bank of the Suez Canal, -at Port Sa’d. The memorial was unveiled by Mr W. M. Hughes, M.H.R., recently.

Standing with his head erect, whlo th e light flashed like bayonet point-: over his flinching muscles, Ben, a stalwart bar horr© of ten year-w lookea defiantly from, stall at Colpnel. W. Smith’s riding, school, Kayanng-h Street, South Melbourne, to-day; nrrn!

Colonel Smith told how Ren,:>wc.s selected as a model by the sculptor from about 400 other fin e horses—-and Ben actually stood for hours in Gilbert’s stifdio in Gore Street, FHzroy.

Ben, when three or four .years of age, was a. woman’s hack, and Gilbert made it known that he wanted the most representative charger that could be found in Melbourne.

He appealed to Colonel Robertson, Director of Remounts, who sought the co-operation of Colonel Smith to Bod a suitable horse.

Ben was taken to the remount yard and immediately GUbert saw him be knew he was the horse he wanted. But befor© h© paid 150 guineas for Ben he took eight or nine veterinary Bnrgoor6 to look him over to make sure h© was perfect. Thus Ben became th e sculptor’s model and for many months he was prepared for that position, learning how t° 'rear with a foreleg held .highin apprehension and his head Eefd majestically. He also had to learn how to rolT over like a wounded horse.

Ben proved an apt pupil, and to-day he gave a demonstration to show that he -had not forgotten -his lesson. Ben •has become a matured hack, but his -fine shoulders and lithe gait still show him to bo a horse of fine quality. The Light Horse memorial has been erected to the New Zealanders and Australians who fell during the war in tli© -Palestine campaign. T-ho memorial was designed by Mr Web Gilbert, who died in October, 1925, before the task was completed. Sir Bertram Mackennel then continued the work, and upon -his -death in 1931 the memorial was ready for casting.